Tamika's Roasted Chicken and Veggies

1 whole chicken
2 yellow squash
1 zucchini
3 carrots
1/2 lb. green beans

Preheat oven to 350
Wash all veggies, cut off ends of beans and slice the carrots, squash and zucchini. Put all veggies in the bottom of a roasting pan. Wash chicken and pat dry. Mix 1 stick of butter with 1 tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp grill seasoning and 1 tsp poultry seasoning. Rub the chicken with 1/2 butter mixture. Use a spoon and add the remaining butter into the veggies. Place chicken on rack over the veggies and bake at 350 for 30 min.

Baked Ziti

1 pkg. ziti noodles(16 oz.)
4 c. or 1 jar of spaghetti sauce
3/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 c. mozzarella or Parmesan cheese (shredded)

preheat oven to 350
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and prepare noodles as instructed. Mix pasta, sauce and Parmesan cheese. Pour into ungreased casserole dish.

Cover and Bake 30 min, sprinkle with 3/4 c. mozzarella (or Parmesan if preferred) cheese. Bake uncovered until cheese melts (5-10 min.)

Placki Jabklowe (apple pancakes)

2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 c. milk

mix together to make batter

peel and grate 2-3 large or 4-5 small apples, add to batter

put about 2 Tbsp oil in a pan and bring to med-high heat. Use large spoon to spoon batter into oil, flip when golden. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top and serve!

Another family favorite. I remember when Izabela was 6 month old, and my father in law came over and wanted to help me out. I came home from church one day and he made these for lunch to surprise me. They were on the table when I walked through the door. I have been told many times since how special that was, because apparently he has never cooked them for anyone else!

Nalisniki

3 eggs
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. yogurt, milk or seltzer water
4 Tbsp evoo

fry in thin layer using circular motion to create a circular shape. Flip and fill with jam spreads, cheese anything savory, sweet anything goes! I learned how to make this from my mother in law when I was pregnant with Izabela. This was our first time in the kitchen together and something that Bart missed from home and wished I could learn to make. It is a family favorite. Bart loves it with fresh diced or sliced strawberries blended with cream and sugar. You fold each Nalisniki into a triangle and top with the sauce. I eat the same thing minus the cream. Izabela eats Nalisniki any way they come. It is something that we eat everytime we are with his parents in Warsaw or when they are here.

Yummy Lemon Bars

crust: 1/2 c. butter (1 stick)
1 1/3 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar

combine and press into 8" ungreased pan and Bake @ 350 for 15-20 min.

filling: 2 eggs
1 c. sugar
2 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 baking powder

mix and pour over crust bake 18-20 min in 350 oven Let cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve!

Strawberry, Apricot, Grape, or Raspberry Butter

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
2 tbsp. fruit preserves of your choice

put butter and preserves in blender or food processor. Pulse on and off until well blended, with a few visible pieces of fruit remaining. Serve at room temp. These are great on scones!

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2 pkg cresent rolls
2 (8 oz.) softened cream cheese
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 stick of butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

mix together 1/2 c. of sugar and cinnamon, set aside. Flatten one can of cresent rolls on bottom of 9x13 pan. Mix 1 c. of sugar, vanilla and cream cheese (be sure to mix with electric mixer until there are NO lumps) Spread mixture over the 1st layer of cresent rolls. Unroll the second can over the cream cheese mixture. Melt butter and pour over the top. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.

Bake 350 for 30 min.

Tamika's Cheescake Minis

1 pkg of 6 mini graham cracker pie crusts
2 (8 oz.) softened cream cheese blocks
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 pure vanilla extract
2 eggs
pinch of nutmeg

mix cheese, sugar, vanilla, eggs and nutmeg. Pour into pie crusts. Bake 35-40 min on 350. Make sure that center is almost set. Let cool, and then refrigerate overnight or at least for 3 hours.

Tamika's Banana Muffins

1 3/4 c flour
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 egg
1 c. vegetable oil
3/4 milk
2 ripened mashed bananas
1 tsp vanilla extract

combine all dry ingredients and whisk together, add wet ingredients and bananas. Stir until moist (do not over mix) pour into greased or lined muffin tins bake @ 350 for 10 min. or until golden brown!

Tamika's Almond Shortbread

1 1/4 c. flour
1/3 c. unblanched almonds
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter (softened)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
powdered sugar (to decorate)

preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease cookie sheet. stir together salt and flour. beat butter, sugar, almond and vanilla extracts until smooth and creamy. Add flour mixture and press all out into cookie sheet. brush with egg wash (water and egg mixed together) and sprinkle with almonds. Bake 12-14 min. Let cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Strawberry Shortcake

Slice 1 lb. strawberries and sprinkle with sugar. let stand 5-10 min. cube cake (yellow or white) or pound cake. layer with cool whip and strawberries in cute dishes

White Sauce (base for other sauces)

1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp flour
3/4 c. milk
1/8 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
pinch of nutmeg

in a saucepan: melt butter stir in flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir in cold milk and cook over medium heat til thick an bubbly

Lemon Pasta

1/2 c. lemon juice
2/3 c. grated parmesan cheese
2/3 c. extra virgin olive oil

1 lb. cooked pasta of your choice

This is a light and flavorful dish! You can garnish it with fresh basil.

Rene's California Bean Dip

1 can Green Giant White Shoe Peg corn
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
1/2 c. finely diced red onion
1 small finely diced jalepeno pepper
1/2 c. Ranch Dressing
1/2 c. Italian Dressing
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. cilantro
3/4 tsp. tabasco

mix all and refrigerate one hour prior to serving. This is an awesome dip or dressing for Taco Salad!